Congress slams Vardhan’s polio claims

BJP chief ministerial candidate Dr. Harsh Vardhan. Congress on Monday moved the Election Commission against him accusing him of making “false and distorted claims” on his role in the campaign when he was the Health Minister. File photo

Fighting over who made Delhi “polio free”, the Congress on Monday approached the Election Commission against BJP chief ministerial candidate Harsh Vardhan accusing him of making “false and distorted claims” about his role in the campaign when he served as the State Health Minister.

In a letter to Delhi Chief Electoral Officer Vijay Dev, the Congress said: “The advertisements issued by the BJP and Dr. Vardhan are not only distorted, but contrary to official records regarding polio cases in Delhi. Such false claims during the operation of the Model Code of Conduct are not permitted.”

The party said Dr. Vardhan was the Delhi Health Minister prior to 1998 and that records contradict his claims.

“It is revealed from the records that there were 47 polio cases in 1998 and 73 cases in 1999. This by itself shows that his claim is false and misleading,” the party said in the letter.

A copy of the complaint has also been sent to Chief Election Commissioner V.S. Sampath by AICC legal department secretary K.C. Mittal.